Compare the Top 5 Best CMA Review Courses & Study Materials of 2020

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Deciding on the best CMA review courses & study materials that will help you pass the Certified Management Accounting exam and become a CMA in the shortest amount of time possible isn’t that easy. There are a few different companies that make CMA exam prep courses and, believe it or not, all of them boast their study materials to be the best. How are you supposed to differentiate between them all and decide on one? Below you’ll find all the best information on finding the right CMA review course for you.

Well, the first thing that you have to know is that there isn’t just one “best” CMA review course. All of the courses have their own benefits and drawbacks that work for some people and not for others. The important thing is that you check out each of the best CMA study materials to see which one will work for you.

Everyone is different. We all learn differently and different ways of staying focused while we study. Some strategies work well for some people and not for others.

It’s important to find CMA study materials that match your learning style and will help you stay focused. You will most likely end up spending over 100 hours preparing for the Certified Management Accountant exam. The last thing you want is a CMA class that will add study time to your schedule instead of speeding it up. You want a study guide that will help you learn faster—not hold you back.

That’s why I’ve reviewed all of the top-rated CMA study materials. I wanted you to be able to look at each one and understand which fits your learning style, study schedule, and most of all, your budget. I review the study text, video lectures, and all of the features of each CMA training class, so you will be able to see all of the benefits and drawbacks.

These Are The Top 5 Best CMA Prep Course, CMA Review Courses & Study Materials in 2020 (June):

Surgent CMA Review – Rank #1

Surgent CMA Review has crafted one of the top exam prep courses for those seeking a Certified Management Accountant certification. With 3,460_ multiple choice questions, 65+ essay problems designed to help you think critically, unlimited CMA practice tests, and more, this is one of the most comprehensive study tools on the market. Furthermore, the course takes note of the areas you’re excelling in and where you’re struggling. It then uses this information to craft a personalized study planner for your progress through the course. New financing available for Surgent CMA, starting from $71/month.

One of the huge positives of this course is that it is designed for efficient studying. Surgent has revolutionized studying, cutting out a shocking amount of wasted study time by focusing on turning weak areas into strengths. The smart technology in the platform helps with this, using pre-assessments and frequent practice quizzes to determine where you still need the most work!

However, this focus on efficient studying may be seen as a negative by some, particularly students who thrive in a classroom setting. The CMA Prep Course is self-led; you’ll need to hold yourself accountable to read the text, study, and maintain your progress. There are no instructors or activities to keep your interest, so you’ll really need to power through some of the drier portions of this study course.

Gleim CMA Review – Rank #2

Gleim has offered detailed professional exam preparation courses and guides for over 40 years. Their CMA study materials and textbooks have a reputation for being thorough and filled with detailed examples. This is great for anyone who needs more help understanding a topic.

The Gleim CMA study guide includes more than 4,100 multiple-choice practice questions. Their Certified Management Accountant test bank is one of the largest on the market. It also includes 40 interactive essay problems that you can use to prepare for the essay section.

Gleim’s CMA prep course includes more than 40 hours of video lectures taught by the knowledgeable and experienced Instructors.

A unique thing about this course is that when you sign up for it, you will be assigned to a personal counselor who will help you through the study process. As you need encouragement, your counselor will remind you that you need to get back on track with you study schedule. He or she will also help answer any questions you have about the materials. This is similar to how Nathan Liao from CMA Exam Academy offers personalized support for his students, but isn’t quite as hands on as him.

CMA Exam Academy – Rank #3

The CMA Exam Academy was founded by Nathan Liao, CMA. This course is somewhat unique because it offers extensive 1-on-1 personal coaching. Each candidate who signs up for this course will be in personal contact with Liao himself as they go through course.

The study materials includes 50 hours of HD video lectures present by Nathan and over 2,500 multiple-choice questions. You will also have access to audio lectures as well.

This is by far the most personal Certified Management Accountant review course out there right now, and is also less expensive than both Wiley and Gleim’s CMA courses.

Another great feature is that this course comes with a 100% pass guarantee. If you fail after using CMA Exam Academy, you will be able to use it again. However I doubt too many people fail after working side-by-side with Nathan to prepare.

Hock CMA International – Rank #4

Hock has been in the CMA exam prep course market for decades. They offer a wide range of different study tools and guides for CMA candidates.

Their complete course comes with video lectures, audio lectures, and more than 2,000 multiple-choice questions. They also include some practice essay questions and mock exams.

This study guide is pretty complete, but it doesn’t go into that much detail. People who need more information about topics might have a difficult time using this course, as CMA Exam Academy offers more examples and detailed study materials.

This is not a bad course, but I would recommend Wiley or CMA Exam Academy over it. They are more comprehensive and a better value for the money.

CMA Study Materials FAQ

⏰How long does it take to prepare for CMA?

You will most likely end up spending over 100 hours preparing for the Certified Management Accountant exam. For this reason, it’s extremely important to look through our highest recommended review courses below, and find the one that best matches your learning style.

📗What is the best CMA study material?

Surgent, Wiley, and CMA Exam Academy all offer compelling benefits, depending on what is most important to your study (video content, practice questions, scheduling technology, exam simulations, etc). Every student is different, so use my comparison chart below to see how they all stack up against each other.

🙇🏻‍♀️How do I prepare for the CMA exam?

Although the answers to this question are highly subjective, in general, I recommend that prospective test takers first choose which section they want to take first, then choose a targeted time slot for taking it (either Jan/Feb, May/June, or Sep/Oct), invest in a solid professional CMA review course, and commit to a study schedule that is realistic.

😬How difficult is CMA?

Year after year, passing rates for the CMA exam are notoriously low, with recent results coming in at roughly 40% passing rate for Part 1, and just 50% passing for Part 2. In plain English–it’s tough. However, a well-made review course can dramatically increase your chances of success. Take a look at my comparison here, and feel free to reach out to me with any questions.

Best CPE for CMAs: Illumeo CPE

As a management accountant with CMA certification, your learning doesn’t end once you pass your exam and become certified. In order to meet your Continuing Professional Education (CPE) requirements, you’ll need to earn additional credits each year. For this purpose, we recommend Illumeo’s intuitive online platform with over 1,000 different courses and webinars covering a wide range of topics. In particular, their management accounting content consists of over 130 different options that all offer credit toward your educational needs.

Top 5 Best CMA Classes of 2020 – Comparison Guide

Kenneth W. Boyd is a former Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and the author of several of the popular "For Dummies" books published by John Wiley & Sons including 'CPA Exam for Dummies' and 'Cost Accounting for Dummies'.

Ken has gained a wealth of business experience through his previous employment as a CPA, Auditor, Tax Preparer and College Professor. Today, Ken continues to use those finely tuned skills to educate students as a professional writer and teacher.